CHC ENDORSES THOMAS PEREZ FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Washington, DC- Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Congressman Ben Ray Luján, CHC First Vice Chair and Diversity Task Force Chair (NM-03) announced that the CHC has endorsed Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez for Attorney General.  The endorsement comes as President Obama considers a nominee to head the Department of Justice following the announcement that Attorney General Eric Holder will be stepping down.

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus proudly endorses Secretary Tom Perez to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States,” said CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa. “Secretary Perez has a proven record of championing and defending the rights of all Americans. The CHC supported Tom Perez in his nomination to the Department of Labor, and the Caucus will continue to support him if he is formally nominated for the position of U.S. Attorney General.  We hope Secretary Perez will be the President's nominee of choice to head the Department of Justice.”

“Throughout a distinguished career that includes Secretary of Labor and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Tom Perez has demonstrated a deep commitment to justice and civil rights,” said Congressman Ben Ray Luján.  “As a dedicated public servant, he has stood up for working families and advocated for the rights of all Americans – especially the most vulnerable.  Secretary Perez’s significant record of accomplishment throughout his career and during his time as Assistant Attorney General reflects the values he would bring to the Department of Justice and instills the utmost confidence in his ability to serve as Attorney General.”

At the Department of Labor, Secretary Perez has demonstrated his ability to lead a department and successfully implement executive actions in an effort to support greater opportunities for hard-working Americans. As Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice, Perez was instrumental in implementing the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act that helped to protect LGBT individuals. Further, he fought to protect voting rights by bringing cases against restrictive voter identification laws.  In addition, Perez safeguarded the rights of service men and women by enforcing the Service Member Civil Relief Act – winning the largest-ever settlements under the Fair Housing and Equal Credit Opportunity Acts – and led reform agreements for accountable and effective policing after opening numerous investigations of police departments.

###